Archive for August, 2024
Forget It
“…forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead…” Philippians 3: 13.
In considering this theme it is not as though the past counts for nothing. Rather this is a statement about the overall outlook of life. On balance, the future is more important in our thinking than the past. This is not instruction to purge the mind of all memories of the past. It is an appeal to not live in the past, but contrast its insignificance with the present/future. This is not advising a memory wipe; it is telling us to focus on the present and the future, rather than the past. Don’t let the past hang over you like a shroud.
We must refuse to allow past successes to inflate our ego. We must not allow past failures to deflate our self-worth. We leave it behind and instead adopt our new identity in Christ. Focus instead on the “upward calling.”
A runner who leads in a race must concentrate on what is before, not the competitors and distance behind. Paul had balance. He remembered the good (Philippians 1:3) and put behind him that which would hinder. Remember “The load of tomorrow added to that of yesterday, and carried today, makes the strongest falter.”
A distance runner never considers the laps run, only what is ahead. That must be our preoccupation. Keep focused on what is yet to be done and do it.
In overcoming the hurdles in our lives we need to consider Olympic hurdlers. They do not allow themselves a split second to think of a hurdle they just knocked over, they focus on the next one to jump. We must divert our attention from past failures and direct it to the next challenge. The past can motivate us in our approach to the next, but it must not retain our attention.
Paul had been cleared by the courts of heaven and though he didn’t forget the lessons learned, he did not dwell on the past. We break the power of the past by living in the present for the good of the future. Time flows from the future to the present and very fast into the past, therefore use it wisely.
In putting aside any bond to the past we are to press toward, that is, fulfilling our role regarding the “high calling.” It is God’s calling of us to Himself and our optimum in service.
An athletic metaphor is used in the text to emphasize the extent of pressing. It depicts an athlete approaching the finishing line. The image is of the runner engaging in all “stretchoutedness.” He leans forward, every muscle is tense, his nostrils are strutted begging for air, and his eyes are on the prize. It means to go all out in every effort to please the Lord.
Now, forget anything in your past, good or bad, the memory of which keeps you from pressing on for the Lord in the future.
The Joy of a Job Well Done
Rummaging through old files is something no one likes to do unless they really need something. In the process other items of interest are found. The following is from deep in one of my files found by accident.
“Everything I need to know, I learned from Noah’s Ark.”
1. Don’t miss the boat.
2. Remember we are all in the same boat.
3. Plan ahead. It wasn’t raining when Noah started building the ark.
4. Stay fit. When you are 600 years old, someone may ask you to do something big.
5. Don’t listen to critics; just get on with the job to be done,
6. Build your future on high ground.
7. For safety sake, travel in pairs.
8. Speed isn’t always an advantage. Snails were on board with the cheetahs.
9. When stressed, float a while.
10. Remember the ark was built by amateurs, the Titanic by professionals.
Basics, every thought in that is basic to being productive. They add substance to Colossians 3: 23, the theme text of my life, “…whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.” If you do a good job as to the Lord and He approves even if people complain you don’t get depressed. You didn’t do it for them, you did it for Him.
Suppose you do a job with your whole heart as to the Lord and He approves. While people brag on you, compliment you, pat you on the back, and add a few “adda-boys” you don’t go on an ego trip, you didn’t do it for them, you did it for Him.
If you are going to do something, anything, do it enthusiastically. Put your whole heart into it. The Seven Dwarfs got the message and it showed as they whistled and sang, “Just whistle while you work. And cheerfully together we can tidy up the place. So hum a merry tune, it won’t take long when there’s a song to help you set the pace.”
OK, OK you don’t have to whistle and sing, but it helps to have the spirit expressed by the thought. Remember, “A merry heart does good like a medicine.”
Finishing a task is a fulfilling experience. Remember, “Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.” Good advice, you might enjoy it so much today you will want to do it again tomorrow.
The Apostle Paul wrote to friends who had worked diligently when he was with them. Leaving them he said, “Wherefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence” (Philippians 2: 12). In summary, don’t just be people pleasers.
Get out there now and heartedly do whatever it is you have to do.
The Ice House
Take this virtual trip in the Bernese Alps, Switzerland from the quaint village of Griendlwald to the Jungfrau. The first part of the trip is by conventional rail to Eigergletscher, the rail stop where passengers transfer to the rack railway going up to the Jungfrau at an elevation of 11,332 feet. It is spoken of as the “Top of Europe.” From here there is a panoramic view of much of Europe. Avalanches can be seen cascading down large mountains. A highlight of the visit to the stunning visitors center is the intriguing ice palace. It is an entire house carved into the glacier. Each room is framed by an ice wall. A constant temperature below freezing preserves the palace.
Make sure the ice palace is not a physical depiction of your home spiritually. With the King domiciled in your house warm hearts will exude “… the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law” (Galatians 5: 22, 23).
Let’s trace this backwards to determine if the King is in residence. If those traits typify your home or personal life the King is in command.
PAUSE and reflect on each of the “fruit” one at a time. Determine if each does it needs accenting?
I enjoyed visiting the ice palace at the Jungfrau, but I wouldn’t want to live there.
Physically make it evident to any guest that might come into your house that Christians live there. This can be done by having a nativity all year. Having a Bible visible sends a message.
The late great basketball player Pete Maravich told me he had John 3: 16 carved in the front door of his house. He said he did it so that anyone who came to his house would know a believer lived there.
Make it evident believers live in your home by the spirit of those living there.
Galatians 5: 22 lists nine aspects in our lives. The text says “the harvest of the Spirit is…” Grammatically that appears to involve a singular noun, harvest, and plural verbs.
The solution is found in the Greek word “karpos” translated “fruit.” In 1611 in England, when the New Testament was translated from Greek to English, harvest time was called a time of “fruiting” so they translated it “fruit.” Today the word “harvest” is a better translation. All nine traits are to be incorporated in the life of each believer. Keep them in mind and enact them daily to avoid your home being a spiritual ice palace.
Servants Not Celebrities – Part Four
Matthew 24: 44 – 47
Astronauts David R. Scott and James B Irwin were the focus of worldwide attention July 30 through August 1, 1971. Having landed on the moon in their spacecraft Falcon, they proceeded to set unimaginable records. They had explored 17.4 miles of the moon’s surface in their electric car. They were doing what mankind had dreamed of for centuries. As a result of their heroic exploits their names would forever be etched in the annals of space travel. Virtual deification awaited them upon return.
After piloting their spacecraft on their 250,000 mile journey back to planet Earth, James Irwin noted, “As I was returning to earth I realized that I was a servant —- not a celebrity. So I am here as God’s servant on planet earth to share what I have experienced so that others might know the glory of God.”
A primary characteristic of a servant is he is under authority. Philippians 2:8 says of Christ, “He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” Christ’s optimum obedience is noted in this same passage in that He was “obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” Our Master, Jesus Christ, was under authority and so should we be.
When it comes to examples of servanthood consider Pilate and Jesus. When Pilate had a matchless opportunity to perform a service at the trial of Jesus he called for a wash basin and washed his hands of the entire affair. With the approach of Jesus’ crucifixion amid His quarreling apostles Jesus called for a basin and washed their feet. Which do you aspire to emulate?
Jesus’ presence is not just for our comfort, but for His control over us.
When we are under His control, we are under all that is His.
A wealthy antique collector whose only son and wife had died some years before also died. He left a large estate containing many valuable antiques. His meticulous will detailed how everything was to be disposed of. According to the provisions of the will, a well-publicized auction was set. Major collectors came from great distances. Their disappointment was visible when the first item offered was an amateurish oil painting of the son of the deceased. The first bid came only after considerable prodding from the auctioneer. $25 was the first bid. The auctioneer knew how to motivate bidders and soon got a $50 bid. Bids rose: $100, $125, and finally $150.
With the awarding of the painting, an envelope was to be opened according to the instructions of the will. The brief note therein stated, “All that is here belongs to you. He who gets the Son gets it all.”
If we have the Son of God, we have all that is under His authority. We have it when He has all that is under our authority.
The Lord is mindful of the actions or lack thereof of those who profess to follow Him. He has a good memory. “For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister” (Hebrews 6:10).
Trust the Lord, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you.
Servants Not Celebrities – Part Three
Matthew 24: 44 – 47
All co-servants, check yourself on this one text. Jesus said, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness…” (Matthew 6:33). Much is said about spiritual authority without really knowing what it is.
Spiritual authority is the authority to serve, authority to put yourself last, authority to say no to the world’s idea of self-promotion. Jesus has told us His secret … and we are authorized to imitate Him. To obey means putting yourself at the whim of the needs of others, to give up your rights and humble yourself, leaving the promotion and control up to God.
Aficionados of old war movies know the winner of seven Academy Awards “Bridge Over the River Kwai.” Filmed in 1957 this film directed by David Lean won Best Picture of the Year. Anyone having seen it will never forget the theme music. Remember whistling it?
This epic is the story of prisoners of war held by the Japanese in the Kwai valley. It depicts how they were tortured and abused. At times their exploitation is gruesome. Their miserable state is graphically portrayed.
There is another account of the events that happened there the secular media would not dare tell. It is a book entitled “Through the Valley of the Kwai” by Ernest Gordon.
It also depicts the brutality suffered. It further accounts the infighting among the group as an outgrowth of their sense of frustration and futility. However, it tells the true story of how one member of that tortured company had a New Testament. Lacking anything to do, an enlisted man asked that a portion be read one day. Soon all the men were listening. It transformed the camp completely. Infighting stopped and kind reactions resulted from mistreatment. One day a train load of wounded Japanese soldiers stopped in the compound. Forgetting all about themselves the prisoners comforted and ministered to them. They said they were merely doing what Jesus taught we should do to our enemies.
As spiritual prisoners of war we too need to respond in a like manner.
Here is another test: Jesus said, “I am come to seek and to save that which is lost.” Then He added, “As my Father has sent Me, even so send I you.” Are you sharing your faith in Christ in such a way as to try to encourage people to receive Him as Savior?
Yet, another test is found in II Corinthians 5: 19, 20. Therein, He said we are His ambassadors. This role we can’t fulfill without Him and He won’t fulfill without us.
It is God’s word — “the word.”
It is God’s work — “reconciliation.”
It must be done in God’s way — “God… pleading through us.”
It really is not about us.
Concisely the following is our responsibility: “You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice; you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him” (Deuteronomy 13:4).